A comparative study between MMT-Fe3O4/PES, MMT-HBE/PES, and MMT-acid activated/PES mixed matrix membranes

In this study, polyethersulfone (PES) nanofiltration mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were fabricated utilizing different types of modified montmorillonite (MMT) (Fe3O4-montmorillonite (MMT-Fe3O4), acid activatedmontmorillonite (MMT-AA), and hyperbranched epoxy-montmorillonite (MMT-HBE)). The morphological and physiochemical characteristics of prepared modified clay nanoparticles and membranes were defined using FTIR, XRD, FESEM, TEM, AFM, pure water flux and water uptake analysis, contact angle (CA) measurement, fouling studies, zeta potential determination, porosity measurements, mechanical properties assessments, and membrane performance evaluation. The results demonstrated that increment of clay nanoparticles' (NPs) weight ratio in PES membranes considerably improved membrane properties such as pure water flux, salt, dyes, and heavy metal removal due to membrane hydrophilicity. Generally, the membrane containing 3 wt% of additive possessed the best performance in terms of salt rejection, dyes and heavy metal elimination, and pure water flux. Membranes containing MMT-HBE showed significantly better heavy metal and dye removal performance than other membranes despite their lower water flux.